How to choose
To buy a suitable polish and not waste money, you need to distinguish between the types of products:
- synthetic;
- wax;
- abrasive.
Each type has its own purpose and differs in composition. Thus, abrasive pastes are based on clay, chalk or marble powder, etc. (grinding particles). Such polishes fight scratches even on old and “tired” paintwork.
The composition can be used no more than 10 times to avoid removing all layers of coating down to the metal body.
Synthetic pastes include various polymer, restorative and silicone pastes. It is based on chemical compounds that remove old layers of enamel and oxidized paint.
Wax is the safest and most popular polish paste. Add shine and refresh the color of the car. The effect of this treatment lasts about 4 months. This is good protection against microcracks, moisture and road dust.
Synthetic polishes
This is the name given to polishing compounds that contain synthetic additives. They are usually divided into restorative, silicone and polymer.
We present the current top 5 among the best synthetic car polishes in 2021.
- Auto Magic Hydro Shine. A two-component polish from an American manufacturer, which is created for high-quality visual transformation of cars. Provides both shine and a high degree of protection from external influences. After application, a dense protective film is formed. The color depth is further enhanced. The product is easy to use. The polish is completely safe to apply to elements made of glass, rubber or plastic. No special preparation required. Suitable even for beginners in car body care. One bottle is enough for more than 30 polishes. By applying more than 2 layers, a cumulative effect is created. The thickness of the film increases, and therefore the protection increases. This is an excellent polymer polish that is rightfully included in the rating.
- Willson Glass Guard. One of the best preparations that forms a strong protective film on body surfaces. This allows you to reduce the influence of dust and dirt. A good way to protect yourself from scratches and chips. The film obtained as a result of processing has good dirt-repellent and water-repellent properties. Preserves color and increases the saturation of the body color. It’s also nice that the polish kit includes everything you need for processing. These are gloves, towels and a special sponge. Withstands up to 50 washes or 12 months.
- Detail HW Hydro Wet Coat. Polishing agent, completely ready for use. This is a reliable body protection for creating additional shine and color saturation. Repels dirt and water. Helps reduce dust accumulation. In addition to the body, this polish can be used to treat plastic elements, tires, glass, wheels, etc. It does not react to contact with chemicals. The declared service life of the film is fair and is 3 months.
- MRFIX 9H Auto Ceramics Coating. Ceramic coating that can guarantee long-term protection and resistance to external influences. Helps restore and saturate body color. After processing, a durable polymer film remains. There is a good package here, which includes the product itself, a sponge and polishing cloths. Durability and protection at a high level. One tube is enough to apply 2 layers on one passenger car.
- Soft99 Fusso 12 Months. According to many motorists and experts in the field of car care, one of the best polymer-based products. The composition is based on Teflon, as well as a number of additional additives. Provides shine to the body, increases color depth and reliably protects against external harmful influences. The product is easy to apply with your own hands. May hide minor damage. After treatment, the body has an incredible shine that lasts for a long time. Please note that the polish is sold in different versions, depending on the color of the body. Products are produced specifically for light or dark shades of paintwork.
It is impossible to find and choose only one polish option that will be the best and most effective. But with the current assortment, every motorist can find the drug that will best satisfy all his requirements, wishes and financial capabilities.
Do you use polish? How often do you process? Which product do you prefer? How satisfied are you with the result? Which polishing method do you trust more?
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Application
Depending on the form of release, polishes have the following features:
- Solid ones can be applied in a thick layer. They are resistant to spreading and economical in consumption. But there are difficulties in applying and rubbing the product.
- Liquids spread a lot, so you need to use a special applicator or napkin. Such compositions are usually more expensive than solid ones.
- Aerosol ones are easy to apply, but if the percentage of silicones is insufficient, the effect will be short-term.
- Cream - products that combine natural wax and synthetic silicones. The result is a texture that is easy to apply and polish and does not smear.
To choose the best polish for a car body, you should first evaluate its original external condition. If there are a lot of scratches, an abrasive product will do, but it is recommended to use it only if the car’s service life exceeds 3 years. Synthetic and wax products will give your car more color and shine. To avoid damaging the paintwork, first carry out a test on an inconspicuous area of the coating, study reviews and testimonials on the Internet.
Wax polishes
Most often, motorists are interested in which polish would be best to polish their car by hand, since not everyone has polishing machines at their disposal. But the same grinders are not always suitable for such purposes, since the disk rotates at a very high speed, which is unacceptable for a number of means.
At the same time, wax polishes are among the most popular. They provide the ability to easily and quickly add shine and provide brightness to the body. How long this effect will last depends on the specific product, as well as compliance with the rules for its application.
The wax layer is washed off quite quickly if you use high-pressure washers, as well as water with an excessively high temperature.
The average duration of effect retention for high-quality polishes is 3 months. At this time, the body retains excellent water-repellent properties, is protected from minor damage and accumulates dust and dirt on the surface to a lesser extent.
If you use a good quality polish, it will definitely withstand 2-3 sessions of high pressure washing. But then you will have to reapply the paste.
Moving on to the question of which wax-based polish is best to polish your car, either by hand or by machine.
- Turtle Wax Metallic Car WAX+ PTFE. If you don't know which polish would be best to choose for your car and prefer the option of manual polishing, then take a closer look at the product from Turtle Wax. An excellent product from a leading manufacturer. The product is suitable for cars with metallic coating. A special polymer has been added to the composition. With its help, the paintwork acquires a more saturated and bright color. Protection lasts for a long period. Additionally, the polish eliminates micro-scratches. The resulting film protects against chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, solar activity, dust and moisture. Contains Teflon. One bottle is enough for about 5 applications.
- Lavr Quick Wax. Wax polish, presented in the form of a liquid with a spray. The treatment will protect the surface from external influences and ensure the shine and brightness of the body. Additionally, the coating will repel water more effectively and speed up drying. The special shape makes it easy to handle the body yourself. The composition is inexpensive. In this case, one bottle is enough for repeated use.
- K2 Turbo. Also included in the rating is a protective polish in the form of a wax paste, intended for car body treatment. With this product you can mask minor defects and give the surface a bright shine. Suitable for use on all types of paintwork, including metallic. With regular use, insects, tar and grease will not stick to the body. All dirt can be easily removed. There is no need to use polishing machines. The paste can be applied by hand without any problems. The only thing is that it is important to remember that you cannot polish a very hot body with this paste, that is, the work should be carried out indoors or under a canopy.
- Doctor Wax Carnauba Polish. If we talk about the best polishes for car bodies, and even for manual use, then Doctor Wax products will be among the leaders. This is a finishing agent with unique protective properties. The composition includes cleaning additives that can rid the body of the smallest contaminants. Suitable for all types of paints. Provides shine and protection. Can hide minor defects. Gives the body water-repellent and dirt-repellent properties. The manufacturer promises 1 year of preservation of the effect, but this is somewhat untrue. To maintain the result, it is better to carry out treatment every 3-4 months.
- Willson PRX Advance. Those who chose this car polish were definitely satisfied with the result. This is a wax paste that is easy to apply and has a high level of protection. Maintains the magnificent appearance of the body and retains its shine for a long time. If your car has become dull, this polish will return it to its original appearance. Contains special Carnauba wax. This is a special type of palm tree. Fluoropolymers are also available to ensure the durability of the protective coating. An excellent choice of polishes designed for manual polishing of car bodies.
This is the entire rating for today. But the list of ingredients does not end there. A high-quality protective polish intended for car body treatment cannot be cheap, nor can it be offered by dubious manufacturers. So give preference to those who have already managed to create a name for themselves, gain trust and prove that their products really work. And they can provide a long-lasting effect after use.
The best polish for car glass
Hi-Gear HG5640
Glass polish consists of polymers that form a thin film without greasy residue to protect the surface. The wettability of car polish is 2-3 times less compared to glass. Even when driving at high speed, dirt and water fly off the glass, leaving the material clean and transparent. As an added bonus, the product is suitable for treating glasses and glasses.
Pros:
- provides the ability to drive with inactive wipers;
- prevents the accumulation of ice and dirt on the glass;
- improves driver visibility during periods of the day with limited visibility;
- eliminates contamination from the surface and from microscopic cracks and scratches;
- low cost - 280 rubles.
Disadvantage: strong alcohol smell.
Glass protection polish Hi-Gear HG5640
SONAX 273141
Specialized composition for processing windshields and door glasses. It has effective protective properties. The product is based on ceroxide and provides chemical and mechanical removal of contaminants. For use exclusively on natural glass. Does not create discomfort during application.
Main advantages:
- removes small scratches;
- fights clouding and burning of material;
- creates a smooth surface.
Flaws:
- high price - 880 rubles per tube;
- inconvenient packaging.
Glass polish SONAX 273141
Rating of the best products by composition
Studying the features of typical components will help you figure out how to choose the best polish. Wax pastes, for example, are useful for filling large cracks. However, the created layer is destroyed after 2-3 washes. Savings when purchasing are accompanied by increased costs with frequent restoration of the protective and decorative coating.
To reduce the negative impact when cleaning the body, do not use active foam or other potent drugs.
Colored polish can be purchased to restore the appearance of the car during pre-sale preparation. But to match the shade, you need to check the result on a small hidden part of the body. Before treatment, degrease the surface with a special car shampoo and remove the remnants of old protective layers. At the final stage, moisture is removed.
Protective polishes
The most reliable layer can be created using Teflon additives. This component extends the service life of the coating and protects against scratches. Dust and other contaminants do not stick to the slippery surface. The following list shows the corresponding polishes:
- Turtle Wax FG6512;
- Runway Nanox NX8305,
- Runway Carnauba Car Polish With Teflon.
Work operations with liquid (gel-like) mixtures are quickly performed. But with such a consistency, consumption increases, and it is more difficult to create a stable layer on a vertical surface. It takes a lot of effort to rub in the paste-like preparation.
Abrasive polishes
These components are added to accelerate the removal of dirt and unevenness. Taking into account the abrasive properties, the optimal speed of the polishing machine is set. For delicate effects, manual techniques are used.
Using this list you can find out which preparation to choose for mechanical processing:
- 3M 51825 - used by professionals and private users to eliminate medium scratches and oxidized areas of paintwork;
- Soft99 Surface Smoother Mini is a special clay that is used to prepare the surface before the main procedure;
- 3M 50417 is a product with good abrasive characteristics, suitable for polishing durable varnish.
Familiarization with the recommendations of experienced specialists will prevent mistakes when handling car polish. Doctor Wax DW8275, for example, is recommended to be used for the main stage of work. The oily consistency of the paste prevents excessive heating at high speeds of the power tool. The product is held well with a sponge. Limited abrasive properties help to gently remove the damaged layer.
Which car polish is best?
To protect the body, dashboard, headlights, glass from insects, UV rays, rain and other negative factors, it is necessary to buy compounds that increase their resistance to these influences. To treat surfaces that have already appeared cracks and scratches, as well as loss of shine and a decrease in the color saturation of the metal, it is recommended to use restoring polishing liquids or solid forms of release.
When choosing which polish is good for a car of a particular make and color, you need to consider a number of factors:
- ASTROhim Anti-scratch AC-8010 with a glossy effect will help remove surface scratches on the paintwork.
- Soft99 Fusso Coat 12 Months can mask cracks in the body and protect it from the negative effects of tree resin, UV rays, and rain.
- To give the metal a natural shine and protect it from corrosion, reducing the consumption of rust converters, you can buy GraSS Hydro Polymer with a wax base.
- You can make the coating glossy and shining using the ultra-fast Lavr Superfast Car Polish.
- Turtle Wax is recommended for car interior plastic parts and dashboard care.
- If you need to ensure a decent appearance of tires in the car interior, then you should pay attention to Kangaroo Leather&Tire Wax.
- You can clean your headlights from dirt and make them more transparent using Willson WS-02077.
- For sanding any plastic parts, Doctor Wax DW5040 will come in handy.
- If we are talking about polishing the windshield, which is not always possible to keep clean with the help of wipers, then GlassGloss is relevant.
- You can get rid of traces of resin, insects, and rain on glass surfaces by using Willson WS-02042.
Regardless of the chosen product, car polishing is a mandatory procedure that helps maintain its aesthetic appearance for a long time.
Rating of car polishes
It became possible to include a particular product in the TOP only after carefully reading the reviews of car owners and car washing specialists. During the analysis of their contents, attention was paid to the safety, versatility, effectiveness and reliability of the formulations.
The choice in favor of specific funds was made based on the following characteristics:
- Release form – liquid, solid, creamy or paste-like;
- The basis of the composition is silicone, wax, abrasive;
- Purpose – restoration and/protection of surfaces from scratches, cracks, dust and other negative factors, adding shine;
- Processed materials – plastic, glass, metal, rubber;
- Parts suitable for polishing are the body, windshield, rear-view mirrors;
- Consistency and smell;
- Volume and efficiency of consumption;
- Type of packaging – spray, aerosol, can;
- Requirements for application: directly to the surface or first on a sponge;
- Drying time;
- Duration of exposure - how many washes the protective layer can withstand;
- Type of polishing – manual or machine;
- Optimal air temperature during application;
- Suitable surface shades.
Also, for the objectivity of the rating, the aesthetics of the formed film and the ease of washing it off if necessary were taken into account. An important criterion was the ratio of price and quality of products.
Types of car polishing
Before polishing your car's surface to restore its shine, check out your polishing options. Depending on its purpose, it can be cleansing, soft, restorative, protective. As for the polishing paste, it is selected in accordance with the condition of the paintwork. For example, if the vehicle is practically new and its body is only slightly clouded, then the best choice would be a homemade car body polish with a low content of abrasive particles or no abrasives at all.
Cleansing
Cleaning car polishing will help rid the vehicle body of scuffs, holograms from poor-quality polishing, cobwebs, and small scratches. It must be carried out before applying any complex protective coating, for example, ceramic, quartz or liquid glass. This option is ideal for new cars or cars that are in good condition. More details about the features:
- In what cases is it used: to clean from all types of dirt, small scratches, holograms.
- Features: non-abrasive and fine-abrasive pastes are used for the procedure.
- Advantages: does not affect the thickness of the paintwork, is completed on average per day.
- Disadvantages: used exclusively for cars that are in good condition or with very soft varnish.
Soft
Having decided to order detailing, i.e.
cleaning and restoration of the car, pay attention to the soft polishing, which is carried out everywhere in car repair shops. This type of polishing is considered the most gentle
At the same time, it is somewhat cheaper than applying an abrasive composition, but it penetrates shallowly into the paintwork. Often used by owners of Japanese-made cars, which are characterized by the application of a thin and not very durable layer of varnish. Characteristics:
- In what cases is it used: for vehicles with barely noticeable paintwork imperfections, low mileage.
- Features: is a transitional option between abrasive and basic restorative polishing.
- Advantages: the top layer of varnish does not become thinner.
- Disadvantages: applicable only for cars with more or less good body condition.
Restorative
This type of polishing means removing part of the protective varnish in order to rid the body surface of small scratches and cobwebs that form from the sandblasting effect. In addition, it is widely used to give the car its original shine. For this purpose, various types of abrasive pastes and polishing wheels with varying degrees of hairiness are used. After restorative polishing, it is recommended to do a protective polish so that the shine effect is preserved for a longer period of time. More details about the technology:
- In what cases is it used: to remove all types of dirt, deep scratches.
- Features: products with both fine and medium grain size can be used.
- Advantages: the effect on paintwork thickness is minimal, suitable for older cars.
- Disadvantages: high cost.
Protective
To give the hood and other body elements a high-quality and aesthetic appearance, it is necessary to resort to full protective polishing. With a professional approach and the availability of the necessary tools, this technology allows you to give the vehicle shine and shine, and reliably protect its body from environmental influences. This helps to increase the operation of the machine. This polishing is applied manually:
- In what cases is it used: to protect the machine from the negative effects of external factors.
- Features: Non-abrasive polishes based on synthetic materials or waxes are used.
- Advantages: UV protection, resistance to holograms, oxidation, and most chemical compounds.
- Disadvantages: high cost.
POLIROL_1
3M Synthetic Wax Protectant 39030, USA
Car polish
410 rub./ 473 ml
The preparation is thick and is applied to the body using a foam sponge applicator. It rubs easily, does not dry completely, which allows you to apply it to the entire body part at once. The signal for rubbing is a slight clouding of the polish. Refreshes the paintwork, and the effect is more pronounced on a dark coating.
Cross Foam СF8354, USA
Triple Strength Polish
160 rub. /500 ml
The composition is thick, the smell is neutral, it dries slowly, and rubs in with light effort. Light gloss is difficult to notice
Hi-Gear HG8016, USA
Polish-cleaner “Bystry”
240 rub. /473 ml
An inconvenient stopper, the composition is thick, the smell is neutral, it dries slowly with the formation of a white coating, it rubs with little effort. The light gloss is not very noticeable.
MA-FRA, Italy
Protective wax for cars with metallic paint
360 RUR/500 ml
Aerosol packaging, which is not always convenient: when applying, you have to cover adjacent body parts or spray the product onto a sponge. It rubs off after slight clouding and does not dry out. Refreshes the coating. The gloss effect appears on both dark and light paint.
ASTROhim Golden Wax, Russia
Metallic polish with Teflon
140 RUR/250 ml
Pleasant smell, optimal concentration - the product does not spread. Easy to apply, dries quickly to a whitish coating. Rubs with gentle pressure. There is a gloss effect, removes the remains of dried insects. After treatment, the surface becomes smoother.
Doctor Wax DW8206, USA
Polish "Quick Wax"
390 rub. /475 ml
The composition is liquid and is applied by spraying, so it gets onto adjacent body parts, including plastic and glass. The smell is neutral. Dries quickly and requires little effort when rubbing. The gloss is unnoticeable.
Liqui Moly, Germany
"Universal polish"
300 RUR/250 ml
The child-proof stopper does not turn away without pressure from above. Pleasant smell, optimal concentration, does not dry out, easy to apply and rub to form a gloss. The font of the instructions is too small.
NANOX NX5694, USA
"Express Polish"
410 rub. /450 ml
The composition is liquid, spray with atomizer. Simple application technology: spray, rub, trying not to get on plastic and glass. The gloss is almost invisible.
Rally 05140, USA
Liquid wax polish
270 rub. /414 ml
The composition is thick. The characteristics are close to NANOX. Easy to apply, dries to form a white coating, polishes with light pressure. Light gloss is difficult to discern.
SONAX, Germany
Colored polish with wax
407 rub. /500 ml
The product is thick, applied with a sponge, dries quickly, which does not prevent you from gently rubbing it with light pressure. Refreshes paintwork and gives a slight gloss. The kit includes a wax pencil designed to combat large scratches, but it only slightly masks them.
Meguiar's G18216, USA
Quick wax
1200 rub. /473 ml
The kit includes not only a foam sponge, but also a large microfiber towel. The composition is thick, optimal consistency, pleasant smell. Easy to apply, does not dry out - you can polish the entire part. Rubs effortlessly. Refreshes paintwork.
Rain Dance, USA
Liquid wax
395 rub. /473 ml
The composition is thick, with optimal consistency. Easy to apply, dries to form a white coating, polishes with light pressure. Light gloss is difficult to discern.
Sapfire Car Polish, Russia
"Auto Polish"
95 RUR/300 ml
The composition is thick and dries quickly, so don’t overdo it with rubbing, otherwise you’ll have to put in a lot of effort or moisten it with water. The gloss is noticeable on a dark coating, but worse on a light one.
What are car polishes for?
The general purpose of car polishes is clear - to restore the presentable appearance of the body, as well as interior elements (plastic, leather, textile) and protect them from the effects of various negative factors. But when the question arises of how to choose a car polish for a car body, it turns out that it is not as simple as it seems. The fact is that classic auto chemical products for polishing paintwork include as many as seven components that have different purposes:
- gloss enhancers are additives that form a protective layer on the surface of body parts that protects against the negative effects of direct sunlight (thanks to wax) and at the same time enhances the shine of such a surface (the so-called brightners are responsible for this - substances that help enhance the reflectivity of the treated surface);
- preservatives that do not contain abrasive materials - they are used to protect the top layer of paintwork from external influences;
- Cleaners are components that allow you to mask minor scratches, as well as cloudy paint stains. This type of preparation is used for preliminary preparation of the treated surface for the subsequent application of a finishing wax composition;
- wax is one of the main components of polishes, due to its ability to form an even thin layer of a substance with a glossy sheen even on imperfectly smooth surfaces (meaning microscratches and other minor defects);
- Grinding pastes are also a means of pre-treatment (removing deep scratches without affecting the primer layer). There are different grain sizes, coarser ones are used for rough grouting of the surface, fine ones for finishing;
- color pigments are additives designed to more effectively disguise body defects. The more accurately the color of the polish is selected, the better the result can be obtained;
- a set of additives for forming a protective film with certain physical properties. Typically, polishes with such additives are used to treat cars with fairly worn paintwork.
General advice when selecting polishes for different purposes is to use auto chemical products of this class from one manufacturer. This will protect you from unwanted side effects when using incompatible components. As a rule, each polish is accompanied by instructions that describe not only the procedure for its use, but also a list of compatible products intended for preliminary, intermediate or final processing of body surfaces or interior parts.